Fra Noi Embrace Your Inner Italian
Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas has commissioned Jo Ann Serpico as an Honorary Cook County Deputy Treasurer in recognition of her longtime activism in the Italian community.
“Without Jo Ann’s contributions over many years, the Italian community would not be as vibrant as it is today,” Pappas said when presenting Serpico with her commission at a ceremony attended by about 20 community leaders.
As an honorary deputy treasurer, Serpico will act as Pappas’ representative in the community. In part, she will encourage homeowners to use www.cookcountytreasurer.com to apply for available refunds and missing property tax exemptions. There is $79 million in available refunds and $44 million in unclaimed exemptions for senior citizens.
Pappas is proud of the support she provides to property owners whose first language isn’t English. Brochures with key property tax information are available on her website in 24 languages. Brochures in Italian have been downloaded more than 10,000 times.
Serpico has served as executive director of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans since 2010 and has presided over the JCCIA, Calabresi in America Organization and Maroons Ladies Club. In 2018, the president of Italy inducted her into the ranks of the Cavaliere dell’Ordine della Stella d’Italia in recognition of her many contributions to the community.
